The Integration and Trade Sector (INT) of the IDB co-organized on November 21-22 a policy dialogue, Towards Inclusive Rules of Origin, with the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development / E15 Initiative.

This course analyzes the provisions of international trade agreements and explains why Latin American and Caribbean countries still face important challenges to fully take advantage of regional and multilateral trading systems, despite the important reductions in tariffs that began in the mid-1990s

Advances in technology, the fragmentation of production around the world and the growth of emerging and developing economies are changing patterns of global trade and consumption. At the same time a number of new issues have emerged in global trade such as the growth of electronic commerce, and the increasing role of information technology and of services in trade.

On July 20th, 2016, the Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a list of 15 proposals, which together will receive US$9.45 million in grants under the Regional Public Goods Initiative. The 15 finalists were selected among 117 proposals submitted under this year´s call for proposals.

Through a loan from the IDB, the Government of Honduras began the construction of the new building last year. The new facility will feature the latest technology and equipment, new furniture, a data center, electrical infrastructure with an emergency generator, laboratory sections for officials, and controlled access. The new building represents an investment of US $ 1.2 million and will be 4,400 square meters; nearly 3 times the size of the current office building (1,200 square meters).

Under the sponsorship of the IDB through the Japanese Special fund, two Regional Workshops were held on the Harmonized System 2017 amendments for the Administrations of the North, South, Central American and the Caribbean Region in Santo Domingo from 6 to 10 June.

Customs administrations of the four countries members of the Pacific Alliance - Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico - signed an action plan to negotiate a multilateral agreement for the recognition of their Authorize Economic Operator Programs (AEO).

In order to strengthen the work with the private sector the meeting gathered representatives of trade associations and organizations of exporters, importers, customs brokers and express industry, among others.

Regional Public Good program (RPG) supports collective actions of countries to develop regional policies to address shared or cross-border challenges at the regional level that cannot be addressed effectively by countries acting individually.